Trump Says Washington Is Discussing Denuclearization
US President Donald Trump said Washington was holding talks with Russia and China about denuclearization. The discussions concern the countries with the world’s largest nuclear arsenals. Trump made the remarks during an interview with Newsmax, according to Reuters on Friday, October 16.
Trump said he wanted to pursue denuclearization. He also confirmed that the United States was talking with Moscow and Beijing about the issue. According to Newsmax, Trump had also discussed denuclearization with Chinese President Xi Jinping.
Trump expects China to catch up with the United States in nuclear capabilities within the next five years. His comments came as the three countries remained central to discussions about nuclear weapons and global strategic stability.
Talks Follow the Expiration of New START
The remarks came months after the Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty, known as New START, expired earlier in 2026. The United States and Russia signed the agreement in 2010. It allowed one extension, which former US President Joe Biden and Russian President Vladimir Putin agreed to for five years.
Any further extension would require a new executive decision to extend the limits voluntarily. The treaty had established a framework to limit the two countries’ strategic nuclear weapons.
The treaty’s expiration has increased the importance of potential diplomatic discussions on nuclear arms. However, Trump did not specify the details of a new agreement. He also gave no timetable for negotiations or confirmation of a proposed formal framework.
Nuclear-Arsenal Comparisons Highlight the Stakes
According to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute, Russia has the largest number of stored nuclear warheads. The United States ranks second, followed by China. Reuters reported that the United States has more deployed nuclear warheads than Russia.
Trump’s remarks indicate that Washington is discussing denuclearization with both countries. However, the report did not confirm a deal or establish that the countries had begun formal negotiations under a new treaty.
